Adjustable crib bottom



Sept. 113, 1949. E. E. WOLLER ADJUSTABLE CRIB BOTTOM 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l Filed April 14, 1947 Sept. 13, 1949. E. E. woLLr-:R

I ADJUSTABLE CRIB BOTTOM 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1947 Patented Sept. 13, 1949 ADJUSTABLE CRIB BOT'I'GM Edward E. Woller, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1947, Serial No. 741,190

4 Claims.

The main object of this invention are, to provide a crib the bottom for which is supported on the crib frame by a plurality of improved manually-releasable automatic locking-means whereby the crib bottom may be conveniently adjusted to and locked at diierent levels on said frame; to provide an improved suspension of said crib bottom on said locking means permitting the crib bottom to be temporarily set at a considerable angle to the horizontal in the process of shifting the crib bottom between the extremes of its horizontal positions on the crib frame; and to provide an improved combination suspension and locking means of this kind which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and facile to operate.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of a crib equipped with the improved manually-releasable automatic locking and crib-bottom suspension combination means embodying this invention whereby the crib bottom may be variously adjusted vertically with respect to the crib frame; the bed in this view has the near side removed and the crib bottom shown in its lowermost position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing in full outline the crib bottom in an angular position with respect to the horizontal, being the first step in shifting the crib bottom into or out of a higher horizontal position such as indicated by dotted outlines in the gure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective of the improved manually-releasable automatic lockingmeans embodying this invention, the protective housing therefor being removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same, the protective housing therefor being shown in place;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail of the locking and release mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cramping ring; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the protective housing for the locking mechanism.

A crib wherewith this improved manually-releasable automatic locking and crib-bottom suspension combination means embodying this invention is used comprises, a main frame B, a crib bottom 9, and a locking and suspension combination means I0 whereby the crib bottom El is adjustable to and supported at different elevations on the crib frame 8.

The crib frame 8 is of a more or less conventional construction comprising ends and I2 connected together by side bars I@ and having tracks in the form of rods I4 supported by brackets i5 on the inner faces of each of the posts of the ends II and |2, which rods slidably support the usual Slat-formed sides I6 and the crib bottom 9. The ends Il and I2 may be of any suitable construction. Suitable means (not shown) are provided whereby the side rails I3 are releasably held in their uppermost positions. At their lower ends the track rods I4 each support a sleeve I'I resting upon a spring I8. These serve to cushion the accidental dropping of a crib side IIB when there is a release of the crib side from its elevated position.

The crib bottom 9 herein shown is of more or less conventional design, being of angle iron construction whereon is stretched a wire fabric I9.

Each of the manually-releasable automatic locking and crib-bottom suspension means IB comprises a pair of angle plates 20 and 2| which are secured together to provide a housing and support for a cramping ring 22, embracing a rod I 4 and normally urged into cramping position by a spring 23 mounted in a release button 24, all which parts are enclosed within a cover 25 and to each of which pair of angle plates is attached by a crib-bottom suspension link 34.

As will be most obvious from Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the angle plates 2U and 2| are secured together by a rivet 26 with the arms 20 and 2|' of said plates in spaced parallel relationship and with the respective apertures 21 and 28 alined with each other so as to receive the post I4.

The cramping ring 22 is of more or less conventional construction. As herein shown the ring is formed with a tongue 29 which extends through an aperture 3U in the vertical arm of the angle plate 20 whereby the cramping ring 22 is hinged between the arms 20' and 2|' of the angle plates 2!) and 2| with the aperture 3| of said cramping ring in axial alinement with the apertures 21 and 28 in said arms.

The release button 24 is slidably mounted on a pin or post 32 anchored near the outer end of the arm 2| of the angle plate 2|. The button 2d. is formed with a groove 33 and the pin 32 is so positioned that the groove 33 is adapted to receive the end of the cramping ring 22 opposite the hinged tongue 29. 'I'he spring 23, being interposed between the end of the post 32 and the upper end of the button 24, elevates the button, thereby normally positioning the cramping ring 22 for engagement with a crib-frame post I4.

The cover 25, as most clearly shown in Fig. '7, .is a piece of channel-shaped spring metal bent to form a U. The legs thereof are spaced apart slightly less than the width of the angle plates 20 and 2l so that the cover will be retained yieldingly in place as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 when it is shoved on over the arms 20 and 2l of said angle plates 20 and 2|. This provides a housing protecting the cramping ring 22 and release button 24 from beingy accidentally released or rendered inoperative by having something inserted or caught in between the angle plates 20 and 2|.

One of these manually-releasable automatic locking means I is arranged on each lof the posts I4 and connected to the contiguous `corner of the crib bottom by meansefalink .3l

The positioning of these locking means l0 on the rods I4 is preferably with the .release button 24 toward the outside. 'I'hls makes it possible for both locking means at one end of the crib bottom 9 to be simultaneously engaged by the two hands of an individual who desires either to elevate or lower the .crib Vbottom 9 on the rods I4. If thev crib bottom is lto be elevated it is only necessary to 4litt the locking means I0 and elevate the crib bottom tothe desired position, where it will automatically be held by the engagement of the cramping ring 22 with the respective rods I4. `When .it is desired to lower the crib bottomfS., the .handsof an individual would be placed undereach of the locking means l0 at one end of the crib-bottom,9 which would position the thumbs conveniently for simultaneously depressing thecorresponding buttons 24. The depression of the buttons 24 retracts the cramping rings 22 and .permits the one end of ,1.

the crib bottom 9 'to be v.lowered on the crib frame 8.

The links 34 are ,pivoted one `at each corner of the crib-bottom -9. The other end of -each link is pivoted to the rivet 26 which s-ecures a pair of angle-plates `2U..and 24 in nested relationship. These linksperm'it a slight longitudinal shiftingof the crib bottom 9 rela-tive to the frame when one end of the crib bottom is shifted so as to .dispose `'the crib bottom in an angular position with regard to the horizontal. Such longitudinal shifting xprevents cramping of the locking means .lil on vthe rods t4 -or a bowing of the rods inwardly, as would be the case if the crib bottom were connected directly vto the locking means lll, without vthe yintervention of links 3d. vIt is this arrangement that makes it so convenient for -an individual to change the level of the crib bottom 9 within the 'frame 8 by alternately shifting the ends relative to the horizontal.

Variations and modi'cations 'in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within thejspirit.andcoverage of .the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a Vcrib of vthe 'class described, the combination with a rectangular 'frame having a vertically-'disposed rod xed at each vcorner thereof, of a crib bottom, a member shiftable lengthwise on each yof said rods, Aeach-'of -said members comprising a pair fof angle pla'tes one arm of each angle plate being -"apertured to yreceive one of said rods, the plates vof each pair being secured together A'in 'nested rrelationship with the apertured arms spaced apart 'and :the apertures vtherein alined, 'a l'cramping ring hinged between said spaced arms with fthe aperture in vsaid ring alined with the:apertures"in said arms, 1a spring normally iu'rgh'g Fs'aid .ring into hcramping `.position @to flock sain infeniber regains-'t downward Cil .4 movement on its respective rod, a button mounted on said angle plates and engaging said cramping ring and adapted to shift it against said spring so as to release the engag-ement of said cramping ring with said post to permit a lowering of said member on its post, and a pair of links each pivoted at one end to a corner of said crib bottom and at the other end to a pair of said nested angle plates.

2. In a crib of ythe class described, the combination with a rectangular frame having a vertically-disposed rod fixed at each corner thereof, of a crib bottom, a member shiftable lengthwise on each of said'rods, each of said members lcomprising :a pair of angle plates one arm of each angle .plate being apertured to receive one of said rods, the `plates of each pair being secured together in nested relationship with the .apertured arms spaced apart and the apertures therein alined, a cramping ring hinged between said spaced arms with the aperture in said ring alined with the apertures in said arms, a button having an annular groove formed therein and slidably mounted on said spaced arms so that the end of vsaid cramping ring opposite said hinge is received in said groove, ta spring normally urging said button to -shi-i-t said cramping ring into `cramping engagement with said post, and a pair of flinks each pivoted at one end to a corner of l Ssaid crib bottom and at the other end to va pair of said nested :angle plates.

3. In a crib -o'i the class described, the combination with a rectangular vfra-me Ahaving a vertically-disposed rod xed at each corner thereof,

- vof a crib bottom, 1a tmembershiftable lengthwise ge'ther in nested relationship with the 'apertured arms spaced Lapart and the apertures therein alined, a cramping ring hinged between said spaced arms V-with "the 'aperture .in said ring alined with the apertures in said arms, a spring n'ormally lurging said ring into cramping position to lock said member against downward movement on its respective rod, a button mounted on said angle plates and 'engaging said cramping ring and adapted to shift against said spring so as to release the engagement 'of said cramping ring with said post to permit -a ylowering of said member on its post, and a pair of links each pivoted at one end Ato a Vcorner of said crib bottom and at the other end to rthe connection kwhereby a ypair of 'said angle plates are secured together in nested relationship.

4. In a crib o'f the class described, the combination with a rectangular frame having 'a vertically-disposed 'rod fixed at each corner thereof, of a crib bottom,.a `member shiftable lengthwise on each of said rods, each oi said members comprising a pair of angle plates one 'arm of each angle plate being 'apertured .to receive one of said rods, the plates of each pair being secured together in -nested relationship with the apertured `arms spaced apart and the apertures therein alined, 'a 'cramping 'ring 'hinged between said spaced arms with the aperture :in said ring a`=l`ined with the 'apertures in said arms, 'a button having an annular Agroove formed therein and slidably mounted on said 'spaced arms so vthat the end of said cramping ring opposite said hinge is received in lsaid groove, a spring normally urging said button to shift said cramping ring into cramping engagement with fsaid post, apiece o'f 5 channel-shaped metal bent to form a, U whereby the legs of said U are adapted to fit over the edges of said spaced apertured arms to provide a removable housing for said member, and a link pvoted at one end to a. corner of said crib bottom and at the other end to a pair of said nested angle plates.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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